Garden tool



Dec. 11, 1923. 1,477,302

E. SWARTZ GARDEN TOOL Fild Apr il 7. 1923 Patented Dec. 11, 1923.

en smras GAiRDEN Toon.

Application fild Aptil 7,

T0 .-allrwwm=-it mc ty aeoncem:

'Be it known that I, J'EDWVARD M. "SWARTZ, a oitizen of-the United States,:residin at Roxbuxy,:inthetount of Siifiolknd i tata of MasSachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in-Garden Toois, of which thefollowing is a speoifioatiom This invention relates to gardon impie ments or toois and more particulaflyto the smaHer sizes: generally ,known as toygarden tools,* althourgh the invention is' not limited to toy tools being genenaily -misei1il inthe manfaeture o'f ail' toois=of the character hereinafter described.

In using a garden tool suoh'as a rake 01 a h0e a special strain is placed on the head of the tool from Whi0h extends the hollowshank or other means for securing the tool to the handle. The need of strengthening the head of the tool to prevent breakage, particulariy when the tool is made from a metal stamping, has been recognized by nnumiaeturers and various suggestions to gain the desired and have been adopted, induding the use of additional reinf0rcing pisses extending longitudinafly of the head, An object of the present invention is to provide increased durability for the head of a stamped metal rake, hoe or the like, in a simple and inexpensive manner, reducing the nu1nber of operations required to make the tool and eliminating the necessity for extra strengthening parts.

To the accomplishment of these objects, and such others as may hereinafter appear from the following description, the inventien comprises the features and parts hereinafter descfiibed and then particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

The preferred form of the invention applied to a rake for illustrative purposes, is shown in the accompanying drawing in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a rake in which the invention is embodied; Figs. 2 and 3 are a plan and front view, respectiveiy of the rake shown in Fig. 1; and Fig. 4 is a central, transverse seetionai view of the same rake.

In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in the drawing the rake is produced from sheet metal by usual processes. The reqnired shape of blank, for forming the teeth and the shank, is out and is embossed by a die at the points and in the manner to carry out the purposes of the prsent:inventioh. After :produeing the emboss ed blank sit vris bent:' to the form shown in the= drawiflgand the sh a1ik= thon :seoured to a: handie.

The 2 blalik :eutting operation produces 2 the I teth 10 reoh .of which is priovided wit h a centralized longitudinbembossihg 1 2, Wh*h extends from top to bOIOHI O hG :teeth and gives -them a =V-haped atransVerse section. Further strength..giving embossing l4, as '-iHustrated in the f orm ofa longitudinal series -of :oonnected ares '15, is .formed ;at theux}per r1dsofthe teeth 10 adjacent the embossing 12. The embossing 12 extends across the so1id portion or connecting apron 16 above the teeth and each are 15 of the embossing 14 bridges the material of this apron, Iying between adjoining teeth 10 and the cusps of the connecting arcs being opposite the center of each tooth. After the blank has been bent to the form shown in Fig. 1 the head 18 lies at right angles to the teeth 10 and the embossing 14 is then in a position to efiectually resist any strain on the teeth which tends to bend or oollapse the head transversely. T0 give further strength, and insure an exceedingiy stifi rake head, a depending rear flange 20 is formed at the bending operation which lies opposite and parallel to the apron 16. A channe1head construction providing excessive strength is thus produced in the simplest manner.

The blank provides metal arranged centralIy at the rear of the head 18 tobe bent into a. eylindrieal tang or shank 22 for securing the tool to a wood handle 2/1. Those skilled in the art are familiar With the formation of such a seouring shank and further desoription wiil be confined to the novel manner of joiningthe metal to the wood which eliminates the use of nails or other independent fastening devices. After the wood handie has been inserted within the shank 22 the metal is embossed by circular beading 26 of suflicient depth t0 force the metal Wel into the softer wood and gain a secure hold thereon. Several of these peripheral beads 26 are preferably, aithough not necessarily, neotion, the drawing illustrating two suc-h which have been found to be sufiicient in practice. It Will be understood that the utility of this feature of the invention is used to secure a firm con:

not confined t0 a rake but is equally efiicient in securing the shank of any sheet metal gardon tool to its hand1e.

While a particular form of emb0ssing 14 for theto0l head 18 is illustrated, it is within the scope of the invention to alter this form, or design, the important feature being the provision of an embossed head having the strengthgivmg channels arranged in such nommer as to resist the strans placed on the head when the tool is used. Gardon too1s of the kind illustrate'd and de scribed are well adapted for the toy gardianing sets so widely used by children andthe novel construction effectually resists the particulafly hard usage to which they are subjected by the children, whereby the life of the tools is inereased.

The preferred form o-f the invention having been descrbed, and its scope having been indicated, what is claimed as new, is

1. A onepiece gardon tool formed from a, metal stamping bent to provide an operacing portion and a channel-shaped head reinforced by embossing which stifiens said head throughout the length of said op eratimg 3. A sheet metal rake having a channel- V shaped head, teeth extending from one Wa11 of said channei, embossing in the base of the channel oomprising a series of arcs spaced t0 embrace the metal between each two adjoining teeth, and a shank extending from the opposite W311 et the channal;

4;. A sheet metal rake havinga chzmnel shaped head, teeth extending from one Wall of said ohmnel, embossing in the base. of the ohannl 'comprising connected arcs bowedtransversely of the channei arranged with their cusps opposite the center of each tooth, and a shank extending froni the wall of the charme].

r EDWARD M. SWARTZ.

opposite 

